How Much Is Enough?

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. (Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 KJV)

Yesterday I mentioned there were other good lessons in this chapter. Here Solomon confirms that there isn’t enough silver – or abundance of anything – that can satisfy a man. Whatever is increased also increases things that consume them. It costs to live.

What good are these things – these abundances? That beauty is only in the eye of the owner. Others do not appreciate their wealth.

This ties so well into the lesson Jesus taught:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 KJV)

The treasure doesn’t have to be tangible, either. The abundance of Ecclesiastes can be anything we put ahead of God. Unfortunately that can be family. It can be attention. It can be leaders – secular or spiritual. There is no end to the possibilities of the things we call treasurers, and we can collect them in abundance. All we get for that is the ability to watch them change.

That watching often costs owners sleep. The last verse confirms the Preacher’s knowledge that a working man sleeps, worn out from his labor. For the rich, there are more worries. A good deal of those worries have to do with keeping his abundance safe from loss.

How much better do we have it when our knowledge includes:

… for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12b KJV)

That’s all for the future, though.  The Preacher has more information for us in chapter 5 for today:

Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 KJV)

Enjoy the days of your life.  Since the earth is the Lord’s, all we have is a gift from Him. Laborer or wealthy, it is good to enjoy the gifts from God.  May you enjoy every single day.